Youth team back on the road and heading for Birmingham

Burnley’s youth team travel to the West Midlands tomorrow for the U18 Professional Development League game against Birmingham City, with the young Clarets looking to get back to winning ways after last week’s defeat at the hands of Bolton Wanderers.

We go into the game still top of the league, despite that reverse six days ago, although now with just a one point lead over the next three teams. However, we come up against the team who are currently bottom of the league and by four points, although Birmingham have only been beaten once in eight games this season.

Their problem is, they’ve only won one game and that was at Coventry who ware currently bottom of the south group and still searching for their first point. We will need to keep an eye on them going forward though, they are certainly capable of scoring goals and already this season have played in a 4-3 defeat and a 4-4 draw.

With the under-23s in action this Monday, it’s likely that Oliver Younger and Dwight McNeil will again be involved at that level but the youth team have got used to them not being available. Bobby Thomas has settled into the back four alongside James Clarke in the absence of Younger and the injured Scott Wilson while in the wide positions, players such as Tristan Jumeau and Dylon Meredith (pictured) have played regularly.

Tomorrow’s game is being played at Birmingham’s Wast Hills training ground which is at 300 Redhill Road, Birmingham, B38 9EL. Kick off time is 12 noon.